From the sandy beaches of Long Island's south shore to the quiet forests of Connecticut — enjoy the natural soundscape of our region with WSHU's Birdsong Break. Each week, we spotlight a new bird, inviting you to take a breath, listen, and let nature remind you to slow down. Birdsong Break airs every Friday evening at 5:50 p.m. and Sundays at 8:59 a.m. and 10:59 a.m. on our news/talk stations.
Audio comes from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Macaulay Library.
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North America’s largest swallow, and one of its most graceful flyers — it’s the Purple Martin. -
Bold, bright, and built for the shoreline — that bill is specially adapted to pry open shellfish exposed by receding waves. -
Cheerful chirps and flashes of red — it’s the House Finch. These social songbirds can be found across our region’s forests and woodlands, and at your backyard birdfeeder! -
Nature’s cutest soundtrack belongs to the Black-Capped Chickadee! These little songbirds are a staple of our region’s forests and woodlands. -
A small bird with big energy -- it’s the Tree Swallow. These little acrobats are one of our region’s earliest spring arrivals! You can spot them near marshes and wetlands, darting through the air catching insects. -
Arriving in our region very soon is a coastal icon — the Osprey. Just a few decades ago, these raptors were practically non-existent here. Thanks to conservation efforts, these days it’s hard to be by the water and not see or hear one! -
Tiny feet, big personality — keep your eyes on the shoreline for the Sanderling. This Arctic nester trades tundra for the Long Island Sound region during the winter months. -
Meet the tiny but mighty Downy Woodpecker, North America’s smallest woodpecker. You can often spot it — or hear it — tapping away in backyards across the Long Island Sound region. -
Staking his claim along the tidal marshes of Long Island Sound, it’s the Red-Winged Blackbird — singing loud, flashing those epaulets, and reminding everyone who runs the shoreline.
